Under the Knife

It doesn’t seem that long ago.
Back in 2002 my 3-on-3 team won the NBA sponsored Hoop-it-Up tournament in downtown St. Louis.

But a lot has changed these past few years. Since then I have had horrible problems with my knee. The last couple years I had the cortisone shots. Earlier this year I had arthroscopic surgery. It didn’t go so well. I had more shots this summer and fall. Nothing has worked and walking even 200 to 400 yards is very painful. So on Tuesday morning I am having knee replacement surgery. I will be out for a few days. In my absence I’ve asked Andrea, Rachel, Mara, John, Ed, and several others to fill in. I’m sure you will be in good hands. I won’t be checking email for a few days.

Thank you all for helping out while I am recovering. Hopefully, all will go well and I will be back soon. And, thank you everyone in advance for your thoughts and prayers.

Our prayers for a speedy and total recovery. We need you in our fight for freedom. Godspeed, Jim. Tom & Kathy

jojo

Take care!

Chris W.

Get well soon.

You got in just in time. Once Obamacare starts, they will hand you a cane and put you on a waiting list for a year.

NeoKong

Good luck Jim and take it easy for a few days.

Anne Willey

Jim,
I read this site many times a day and appreciate your work. At 52yo, I had TKR over 2 years ago – hints for recovery: get out of the hospital as soon as you get to their rehab requirements to decrease infection (I left after 36 hours), don’t get disappointed when you feel like you go backwards in rehab, take max pain meds before rehab, do more rehab than they ask you to do (if they say get to 20degrees, get to 25), get up and move as much as possible, move to the cane as fast as you can, for sure by 3 weeks. The more recovery you make quickly, the more strength and movement you will have. No pain now at all, can do almost anything except run a marathon. One of the best decisions I made.
Good luck.

lakewriter

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I say ‘amen’ and ‘ditto’ to Anne’s remarks. It’s all in your hands, the rate of recovery. I somehow dont think you will be lax! No pain, no gain! And from what I’ve seen from friends, it’s a terrific gain!

Prayers for you, Jim, and all best thoughts for a speedy recovery after successful surgery. We’ll miss you over the next few days…

COLO KID

Word from a double knee replacement patient. Good Luck with the replacement. There are knee surgeons and there are knee surgeons, so I’m hoping you have a real knee surgeon. A knee replacement is neither quick nor easy, BUT ABSOLUTELY necessary for those who need one. Good advice from earlier letters; get out of the hospital as quickly as possible, get on the therapy as quickly as possible and stay on therapy as long as necessary(work that knee, don’t be afraid to take the pain pills). Eighteen months from now you will be enjoying the strong new knee and wondering where the pain went. No more marathons or high jumping—ever. KEEP YOUR WEIGHT DOWN—THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF KNEE OR HIP SURGERY IS DEPENDENT ON BODY WEIGHT—LOW BODY WEIGHT.

Lifting you up Jim… may our Father in heaven guide the doctors hands and give you the blessing of a perfectly accomplished surgery. May your recovery be quick and well worth all the pain and effort to achieve! God bless you, may you be made whole, in Jesus Name!

Blacque Jacques Shellacque

Best wishes, Mr Hoft.

BuddyG

Feel better, mate !

Sandy

Jim Hoft — You take care of yourself honey. Your loyal fans will be right here waiting impatiently for your return. Bless you for the hard work you do.

Best to you but I hate to tell you that I know of several people who’ve had knee replacements.

The ONLY thing you are going to be doing for the better part of the next 3-4 months is pop fistfuls of vicodin to ease the pain – which is only going to be made worse by physical therapy. However, once you’ve recovered, you’re like new.

Emma Thoni

Good Luck Jim!!! Feel better soon!

Tim

had both of mine done 5 years ago. One of the top 10 wisest decisions I’ve ever made. Do the PT religiously and you will be great. I now ride my bike to work every day. I knew I was in pain before, but I did not realize how much pain I was in until it was gone. I count these as miracles.

dave

No wonder you won the 3v3 tournament. You had 4 guys.

Larry Sheldon

My wife has been there twice. She is glad she did.

The key, after surgeons that know what they are doing, is a physical therapist who does AND family members and friends that make you do the stuff.

It they do their job right you will hate them for a year and sing their praises the rest of your life.

Jim, there is a clue to your medical problems found on your drivers license. Yes, it’s there on your driver’s license.

Wait for it . . .

Wait for it . . .

It’s right there just after that line that says DOB.

YOU AIN’T 18 ANYMORE!

(That’s what my friends tell me anyway. I need double knee replacement from 45 years of sports. Can’t run anymore, can still mountain bike and lift. Get a bike if you don’t have one, it’s great therapy and it WILL make you feel like a kid again.